Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
17 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
The ambitions of Robert the Bruce... |
He is accused of being an opportunist, rather than a patriot. However, other historians back Bruce and argue that it is unfair to judge him against Wallace. - Regardless, Robert the Bruce was undoubtedly a fiercely determined man. His commitment and drive would eventually take him to the crown of Scotland and an independent Scotland. -This would only be accomplished, however, after many years of violence and diplomacy. |
|
|
Rivalry and Civil War... |
-Robert the Bruce was not the only noble with a claim to the Scottish throne, in fact his was not even the strongest case. John Comyn, who had once been joint Guardian of Scotland with Bruce, was his closest rival. -The two had been in consistent negotiations with each other for some time before meeting in Greyfriar's Kirk at Dumfries on 10 February 1306. The circumstances surrounding events that day are unclear. What is known for certain is that after an argument, Bruce murdered Comyn. -It is unlikely that Bruce had the intention of killing Comyn in the Holy surroundings of a church, and his actions had significant consequences. For instance, Robert the Bruce was excommunicated by the Pope, effectively excluded him from the Christian faith, despite being pardoned by Bishop Wishart of Glasgow.
|
|
|
The King of the Scots... |
-Despite being excommunicated, Bruce was convinced to proclaim himself King of Scots by Bishop Wishart. Bruce was made King at Scone, the traditional place where Scotland's Kings had been crowned.
-Although now proclaimed King, Robert did not receive universal support amongst his countrymen. Shortly following his crowing, his small force was defeated by the English at Methven Wood. - On retreating from this defeat, Bruce and his army were attacked by supporters of Comyn seeking revenge for his murder. -Much of Bruce's family were captured by the English, including his wife and daughter. Many of his brothers were executed along with his supporters. Bruce became known as King Hob (King Nobody) and faced a very bleak future. |
|
|
Loudin Hill and the continuation of the Campaign... |
-After a few months out of the limelight, King Robert became active again in early 1307. However, two more of Bruce's brothers were captured and executed at this time, dealing a further personal blow to the King. - Bruce continued with his hit and run campaign against the English and grew in both confidence and support after a victory at the battle of Loudin Hill. -Edward I travelled north in attempt to again crush the resistance of the Scots but died before crossing the border. His son, Edward II, lacked the will of his father and concerned himself more with issues at home in England. |
|
|
Post-Edward's Death... |
-Bruce's support grew after the death of Edward I but a significant number of Scots still supported Comyn family's claim to the throne.
- King Robert marched to the north-east of Scotland, the stronghold of the Comyn family, with the goal of defeating his opponents. This move prompted a bitter civil war in Scotland. |
|
|
Bruce's Success... |
-Bruce took a strong force to the North East and enjoyed success, capturing significant Comyn castles such as Inverness and Nairn. The pivotal battle took place at Inverurie, near Aberdeen. -Despite King Robert suffering an illness before the battle, he was able to defeat the Earl of Buchan and was free to destroy any remaining support for the Comyns. -Bruce employed a 'scorched earth' policy across the area in what was known as the 'Herschip of Buchan'. His men destroyed livestock and burnt crops. -These tactics are symbolic of the brutal way in which King Robert suppressed opposition to his kingship. |
|
|
Bruce's Success Continued... |
-Bruce would destroy any castle he captured, ensuring that it could never again be used against him. Lands captured from his enemies were redistributed amongst his supporters. -King Robert also used political methods of securing his position, holding his first official parliament in St Andrews in March 1309. -Further to this, the 'Deceleration of the Clergy' was written to cement the support of the church behind the King. -Historians have argued that actions such as these show that Bruce's propaganda was effective in displaying him as a legitimate ruler of Scotland. |
|
|
Landmark: 1310... |
-By around 1310, Bruce had crushed most of the opposition to his rule in Scotland. With his kingship secure, he once again turned his attention towards the English. |
|
|
War and Victory at Bannockburn... |
By 1313, only Stirling and Berwick remained in English hands, Bruce was enjoying considerable success and focused his attention on Stirling, the strategic key to ruling Scotland. By mi1314dsummer , the Scottish forces marched to face Edward II's army at Bannockburn. |
|
|
Bannockburn (part 2)... |
On the 23rd and 24th of June, the Scots were able to defeat a numerically superior English force. The fighting began as the English army approached Stirling on the 23rd June. Edward II sent two separate scouting parties ahead of his main force. The party under the command of the Earl of Hereford came upon Robert the Bruce inspecting his troops. An English knight named Henry de Bohun charged the Scottish king directly but was sidestepped by Bruce and dealt a blow on the back of the head with a battle axe. The rest of Bruce's men then routed the English back towards the main army. Elsewhere, the Earl of Moray fought back the second scout party. |
|
|
Bannockburn (part 3)... |
In response to the day's skirmishes, Edward II moved his army and settled near the Bannockburn at night. The next morning, the smaller Scottish army took up battle formation, facing a disorganised English force. The boggy ground proved near impossible for the English horses to move over. As the Scots advanced in three separate 'schiltron' formations, the English knights could not counter attack effectively and as they continued to struggle on the heavy ground, the Scots slowly pushed them backwards. The English also struggled to move the archers into a position where they could inflict damage on the Scots. They were charged by the Scottish cavalry and driven from the field. |
|
|
Bannockburn (part 4)... |
With Edward II watching on, a final push from hardened Scottish soldiers charged the disorganised English. The Scots broke through and pushed the remnants of Edward II's forces into retreat. As the day ended, King Robert had led the Scottish army to a famous victory. Edward II would never again hold such a strong position in Scotland. |
|
|
The Declaration of Arbroath... |
Despite the emphatic victory at Bannockburn, the Scots had not inflicted the killer blow. The strive for independence continued, with Bruce's brother, Edward, opening a second front in Ireland and the King consistently raiding northern England. The Scots experienced mixed fortunes, with Berwick being recaptured in 1318 but Edward Bruce dying before he could secure Ireland. Edward II invaded Scotland once again in 1322 but was unable to draw King Robert into battle. With the fighting continuing, the King Robert attempted to bring peace and independence through diplomacy. |
|
|
The Declaration of Arbroath (part 2)... |
Scotland had remained isolated from the Roman Church due to Robert the Bruce's excommunication. In 1320, the nobles of Scotland sent a letter to Pope John XXII to state the case for Scottish independence. The document became known as the 'Declaration of Arbroath'. It put forth a strong argument in support of the Scottish cause and attempted to justify the past actions of Bruce. The Declaration arguably shows a cementing of Scotland behind King Robert. It remains an extremely important historical document, unlike any other from its time. |
|
|
The Treaties of 1328... |
King Robert had spent his entire reign engaged in warfare against his rivals and then the English. By 1328, he was suffering from leprosy and neared the end of his life. Edward II had proved a weak monarch and was eventually deposed in 1327. Bruce exploited the uncertain situation in England by sending an invasion force not long after the crowning of the infant Edward III. |
|
|
The Treaties of 1328 (part 2)... |
The English proved unable to counter the Scottish threat and facing further problems at home, the guardians of the young Edward III sued for peace. The treaty of Northampton/Edinburgh was signed in 1328 and brought the Scottish wars of independence to an end. Robert the Bruce was recognised as the King of Scots and independence was guaranteed. |
|
|
The Treaties of 1328 (part 3)... |
King Robert died from leprosy in 1329, not long after the treaties were made official. However, he had lived to see his long held ambition of recognition and independence realised. |
